Dominican Republic: Trujillo Is No Benefactor

Since the day 14 months ago when
they signed a pastoral letter calling for "freedom of conscience, press
and assembly," Dictator Rafael Trujillo has spared no effort to beat
the Roman Catholic bishops of the Dominican Republic into submissive
silence. Two months ago, dismayed by personal threats and public
incitement against the church, the Dominican bishops informed Trujillo
that they wished "to continue cooperating." As a token of capitulation,
the dictator demanded the title "Benefactor of the Church," a distinction
last conferred on Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1167.